Nikon D800: The best sensor analyzed on DxOMark!

The Nikon D800: A full-frame sensor with no weak points

The two Nikon full-frame cameras, the D800 and the D4, occupy the top two places in the full-frame category. Simple and efficient. Still, be careful: as ever, in this review we are discussing only the D800’s RAW-image-based sensor results. We will follow up with DxOMark results for compatible lenses for this camera whose small pixel size promises to be very challenging.

Returning to the sensor, the D800’s Overall score is the best that has ever been achieved, and its use case scores are equally impressive:

Portrait: 25.3 bits (tied for 3rd, best full-frame score, very close to the best medium-format scores)

The Portrait score represents the sensor’s capacity to furnish vivid, varied, and accurate colors under good lighting conditions (i.e., studio).

The Nikon D4 had already obtained very interesting results. Here the D800 comes close to the quality of the best medium-format sensors: the IQ 180 (26.5 bits) and the P65 Plus (26 bits) are ahead, while the D800 achieves the same score as the P40 Plus. Even if its resolution is two times smaller than the medium format with the best resolution so far (the IQ180 and its 81 Mpix), the Nikon D800 and its 36 Mpix is a serious contender.

We still need to see how good the resolution and other optical qualities are for Nikon lenses when mounted for the first time on this small-pixel (4.8 µm) full-frame camera. We will also need to verify the performance of the best medium-format lenses on the best medium-format cameras. In short, the Nikon D800 has not told us everything about how well it will do in terms of studio photography, but we can say that its sensor performance is solid in this regard.

Landscape: 14.4 EV (1st)

Here again, the D800 achieves the best score ever measured. The APS-C sensors of the Pentax K5 and the Nikon D7000 are surpassed by around 0.3 and 0.5 stop, respectively. No need to hesitate taking high-contrast photos with the Nikon D800!

Sport: 2853 (3rd) — a pleasant surprise

The Sport score (alias Low-Light ISO score) lets you know how far you can go with regard to ISO without compromising image quality. Up until now, the sensors with the best resolution couldn’t compare their low-light performances with those of the best sensors in this category (the Nikon D3s and of course the D4). Here the D800’s sensor performance matches that of the D4’s!

All this said, it’s useful to recall these 2 important points:

As with all DxOMark scores, we take into account only image quality. It does not address such other important criteria as image signal processing, mechanical robustness, ease of use, flexibility.

Nikon D800 vs Nikon D4

Taking two different approaches, Nikon produced two beautiful full-frame cameras this year (see our comparison of their specifications here). In terms of sensor results, the D800 takes the lead. The 6-point gap is largely explained by the differences in measurements at low ISO.

The normalized SNR curves are very close, and in terms of color sensitivity, the Nikon D800 is slightly superior for low ISO:

Nikon D800 vs Nikon D4: SNR comparison (print mode)

Nikon D800 vs Nikon D4: Color sensitivity comparison (print mode)

The biggest difference shows up in the dynamic range scores:

Nikon D800 vs Nikon D4: Dynamic range comparison (print mode)

In every instance in which the Nikon D4 reaches its ceiling for dynamic range for between ISO 100 and ISO 800, the Nikon D800 provides ever more EV at each decrease in sensitivity to achieve a maximum of 14.33 EV (normalized measurement), which corresponds to 13.24 EV per pixel. This sensor’s 14 bits of dynamic range are far from useless. (Of course, we remind you that in screen mode — unnormalized, as is the case for 100% screen view, for example — the Nikon D4 comes out ahead, and by quite a large margin — with the SNR curves showing a difference of nearly 1.5 stops.)

Nikon D800 vs Pentax K5 vs Nikon D7000

With a nearly identical pixel pitch (4.7µm) and very close measurement results (in screen mode), be they for SNR, DR, or color sensitivity — those who predicted that the D800 would achieve pixel quality close to that of the Nikon D7000 and the Pentax K5 were not wrong. (If we wanted to get a little nit-picky, however, we might be tempted to point out that there has been no significant progress with respect to pixel quality since the D7000 and the K5 first appeared back in 2010….)

The Nikon D800, a less-expensive medium-format camera?

Several comparisons are available between this new full-frame camera and medium-format cameras:

All these comparisons head in the same direction: the D800’s sensor is comparable to the best medium-format sensor, and in fact does even better — much better — as ISO increases.

Of course, sensor scores don’t tell the whole story. For example, medium-format cameras will still offer a nicer depth of field and a smoother bokeh. We also still need to see how the best lenses behave on these different types of cameras.

Nikon D800 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II (and soon the 5D Mark III)

Just a quick comparison between the D800 and the 5D Mark II (while we wait for the results of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III) to see how the Nikon D800 ranks with respect to this very good but older Canon EOS 5D Mark II sensor.

The D800 is superior in every respect:

16 points more for Overall score

1.6 bits more for Color Sensitivity (Portrait)

More than 2 stops’ difference for Dynamic Range (Landscape)

Around 2/3 stop better for Low-Light ISO (Sport)

Looking at the details more closely, the Nikon D800 succeeds in providing the same SNR in screen mode despite a much lower pixel pitch (4.7 µm for the D800 vs. 6.4 µm for the 5D Mark II)!

Nikon D800 vs Canon EOS 5D Mark II: SNR Comparison (screen mode)

To be continued…

Even though the D800’s sensor results are exceptional, we are looking forward to measuring the best Nikon lenses on it, and also to being able to compare it with the new Canon EOS 5D Mark III!

Further readings for the Nikon D800 Review

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Comments

D800 as Super DX?

may have posted this in the wrong place... Just discovered DXO- WOW, whata great service you guys provide us camera geeks!

My thoughts, correct me if i'm wrong; The D800 in-camera crop leaves the remaining 16 mp at the same density as the 36 mp right?

Doesn't this actually make the camera also a High Density DX camera?

More to the point is that I've found my 17-55 f2.8 DX lens including the 18-300 Nikon f3.5 has AMAZING sharpness that you can see from the back of the camera. You're jaw will drop when you zoom in!

What do you say to a review of at least the Nikkor DX lens on the D800? The 2.8 Nikkor DX lens should be sharp anyway so, just to see if I'm Looney or not, test just one, the 18-300 and see what you see.

So far as I've seen, almost every lens scores higher on the D800 as oppose to other Nikon cameras. So, What do you say DXO? Up for even more work???

First replies for this comment

Re: D800 as Super DX?

Unfortunately, no. 36 MP is the total number of pixels in a full sensor exposure on a D800. If you crop, whether in post or in-camera via DX mode, you're deleting pixels. The pixel density of the D800 is actually slightly less than the D7000 (even in FX mode), and significantly less than the 24 MP DX D7100, but this doesn't really speak to IQ. Pixel density is nothing more than number of pixels divided by physical size of the sensor. If it were possible to measure IQ based on number of pixels or pixel density, then the D800 would be 2 to 3 times better than the D4, which it clearly is not!

But back to the point, the main difference in cropping a full frame exposure (assuming you used an FX lens) is that you can choose exactly how much to crop whereas in DX mode you're maxed out at 16 MP, which gives you an image that is a close equivalent, as it's been reported by many, to that of a D7000 in both size and various measures of image quality (and also very similar pixel densities). I have a D7100 and love it and also a D800. I seem to be in rarefied air when I say I'm thrilled with the DX mode (and 1.2 crop mode). 16 MP is PLENTY! And if you get the MB-D12 grip and put in either the D4 battery or AA's you can get 6 FPS in cropped modes. You can also try the bracketing trick from here http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51004727 to get 6 FPS without a grip! The difference between 4 and 6-7 FPS is huge and makes up for some of the ground this camera gives up to the D4. It doesn't turn it into a D4, of course, but it makes the D800 even more versatile than most people give it credit for, especially if you use the right glass. And this is the right place to find out what that glass should be!

Hmmmm

I'm curious why DxOMark lists the D800 as "semi-pro" and the 5D Mark III as "Professional", they even called the 5d Canon's "Flagship" in their review(?) Am I mistaken, or are these two cameras in the same class?

Best camera sensor ever, but no lenses tested after almost a year?

Dxo rates the D800/D800E higher than any other camera sensor. You would think they would be interested to see how well various lenses perform with it. It's now been almost a year since the camera's been released and, to date, they have tested only one lens with it; and the lens they chose to test? A cheap Tamron.Please, let's see some tests with the kinds of lenses a Nikon D800 user is likely to own. Maybe even a Nikon lens... Start with a few decent primes, like the 16mm, 24mm, 60mm, 85mm f/1.4 105mm and/or 200mm. Then a few of the decent zooms, like the 12-24mm, 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and/or 200-400mm.Any D800 owner will have one or more of those lenses in their kits.It would be nice to know how my new D800E stacks up against the camera I upgraded from. Just knowing how the sensor alone compares isn't all that useful, since I rarely shoot without a lens on my camera.What do you say?By the way, for those interested in whether the D800E produces moire in the real world: I've shot over 4,000 photos on the D800E, including lot of shots with textiles and architecture, and so far, there's been zero moire.

D4 vs D800

My main Reasons for the D4:1)Speed of focus - I can't use my 85 f/1.4 or 24 f/1.4 on my D3 or on a D800 and have it focus fast enough to get in focus shots of toddlers or other erratically moving things.2)Ethernet port ethernet tethering- I use a Netgear WNCE2001 and Mophie Powerstation Gen 2 which works quite well.D4 Wireless Tethering

First replies for this comment

Re: D4 vs D800

Quote:

<div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Nikon/D800">this page on the website</a></div>My main Reasons for the D4:1)Speed of focus - I can't use my 85 f/1.4 or 24 f/1.4 on my D3 or on a D800 and have it focus fast enough to get in focus shots of toddlers or other erratically moving things.2)Ethernet port ethernet tethering- I use a Netgear WNCE2001 and Mophie Powerstation Gen 2 which works quite well.<a href="http://vigorotaku.blogspot.com/2012/11/d4-wireless-tethering.html">D4 Wireless Tethering</a>

Please tell me you're a pro who works for Parents magazine or some such.We now need a D4 to take snapshots of toddlers? First world problems. LOL

D800 vs D600

I am considering one of these cameras. I have read many reviews but none has given a definitive answer to image enlargement. I intend to print the files at 40X60 to 40X80, with interpolation, of course. It seems, from what I read, that a minimal camera shake, even from the mirror movement might not reveal the extra resolution of the sensor. Besides the array of lenses suited to work with the D800 in order to bring out all of its qualities seems to be rather limited and expensive. Ultimately will the 30% increase in pixel count make such a big difference for the print sizes I'm aiming at?

First replies for this comment

Re: D800 vs D600

The D800 is an exceptional camera in all situations. I use it for everything, including fast action, as well as for live evening performances without flash at iso 6400. Hand held in all situations. No shake troubles at all. And the images look great.As long as you have reasonably disciplined technique, it's not any more 'difficult' to use than other cameras.

That said, the D600's 24MP is a LOT. Just think - the highest resoluton DSLR in the world was 24MP until just a year ago (D3x) - so the D600 will do a fantastic job. And it has a far better sensor than the D3x, it's much faster, has better iso etc....

Nikon D800

The D800/D800E render levels of texture, nuance and detail to your photography that, until now, have been the exclusive domain of the complicated medium-format system. Define every eyelash, every line in tree bark, and every shimmer of light. Savor the exceptional depth in your still images — with the combination of an astounding 36.3 effective megapixel, the world's highest*, and the outstanding performance of NIKKOR lenses, you can. Enlarge them as big as A1 poster-sized prints (59.4 x 84.1 cm/23.4 x 33.1 in.) at 200 dpi, or crop aggressively to reach the composition you desire, all without sacrificing the detail and tonal range of the original. In order to maintain clean, high-resolution images, 14-bit A/D conversion within the sensor and a high signal-to-noise ratio deliver phenomenal images in a diverse array of situations. The image sensor's incredible potential does not stop with photography, either. For cinematographers ready to put their exceptionally sharp NIKKOR lenses into action, the D800/D800E's 36.3 effective megapixel data is efficiently processed for exquisite 1080p broadcast quality video at 30p.

Re: What is the point of D4 then?

Re: What is the point of D4 then?

Quote:

How about the fact that it shoots 10fps?

Horses for courses. Sport and news do not need 36MP. They want speed and ultra low-light shooting.

Disagree. Sport and news would LOVE to have 36MP. But it's impossible at the moment and they have to do without. When a 36MP camera turns up one day (within a few years) that can do 10fps and 50K ISO, every sports and news photographer will buy it. Of course.

D800 price

Here in Singapore they offer the D800 for S$4488 which is 20% above the price in the USA, 2999US$ and lower than the hefty price Europeans have to pay....2900EuroI think the camera should be sold everywhere at the same price. I am now thinking of asking an American friend to buy the camera for me there and bring it over. Maybe I even go for the D800E which is cheaper in the US than here the D800.@impurenrg...I think you got things confused here. The D800 sensor was rated higher than the D700 sensor.

First replies for this comment

Re: D800 price

Well the US price is with no sales tax. The Europe price is with VAT. Vat ranges from 17% - 25% in different EU countries. Crazy! But the VAT 0% price is about 2200 euros in Finland for instance. How does that compare to your price?